OF HARTING. 269 



way. The series of notes that have so long been 

 exciting our curiosity in the shrubbery, are a rude 

 imitation of this cat-call, and the common robin is the 

 author of the not very discreditable performance." 



The Whinc'hat (Fruticicola rubetra) is one of our 

 summer visitors, but is comparatively rare within the 

 parochial limits, altho' it is met with in greater 

 numbers in surrounding localities. The Stonechat 

 (Fruticicola rubicold) is a much more common bird, 

 and not only nests among the heath and furze of our 

 downs, but may often be seen throughout the winter 

 perched on the top of a bush, and uttering, with a jerk 

 of its wings and tail, its well known note, which more 

 resembles the sound produced by striking two peb- 

 bles together than anything musical. The Wheatear 

 (Saxicola cenanthe) is thinly dispersed on our downs 

 during the summer months, and often selects a hole 

 in a bank for its nesting-place. In allusion to this 

 bird, our local observer gives us the following note : 

 " From a hole, resembling a rabbit burrow, in a chalky 

 bank, I one day saw a wheatear make its exit, and 

 on exploring the interior I found a nest containing 

 one egg. Just beyond it my hand came in contact 

 with a cold clammy yielding mass, which puzzled me 

 for an instant, but under a little further examination 

 with the tips of my fingers, and a not very exhaust- 

 ing mental process on my part, it gradually resolved 

 itself into a full-grown toad, in the enjoyment, as I 

 trusted, of robust health.- I had no doubt he had 

 travelled thus ' far into the bowels of the land,' and 

 established himself in his hermitage uninfluenced by 

 any other feeling than the wish for solitude under 

 cool and humid circumstances, before the birds had 

 laid the foundation of their rest, so that his occupation 

 of the same dwelling with them must have been ac- 

 cidental ; but it would also appear to have been very 

 peaceful, as he retained his position close to the nest 

 from the day I first came in contact with him, until 



